Grand Rapids Community Foundation

As of 2024, grant recipients of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation have included the Chicago Community Trust, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, and Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. ⁷

Activities

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation is a philanthropic fund that manages the permanent endowment for Kent County, Michigan and distributes grants to nonprofit organizations as well as student scholarships. From 2024 to 2025, the organization reported making $24 million in grants and scholarships. It was founded in 1922. ^{1 8 9}

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation has six primary funding areas: education, health, neighborhoods, engagement, economic prosperity, and the environment. ⁴

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation also administers other funds for nonprofit technical assistance, which provides grants of up to $10,000 to help pay for consulting services to nonprofits; youth grants that awards money to nonprofits that support youth development; the challenge scholars dream fund, which funds students and graduates of Union High School; Access Camps, which provides “equitable” access to camp activities for racial minorities and those who identify as LGBT; and a regional affiliate program to support other funds. ¹⁰

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation also operates an LGBTQ Fund to support the LGBT community. ⁵

Additionally, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation operates the Black Legacy Fund, which supports race-specific initiatives, including grants to help “Black Youth… explore the diversity within BLACK culture”; programs to “disassemble systems that have been intentionally designed to disproportionally affect youth of color in a detrimental manner”; and to programs for the “development and implementation of a Blueprint for African American Community Development in Grand Rapids.” ⁶

Leadership

As of 2026, the president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation is LaSandra Gaddy, who took the position in 2024. Previously, she was the chief executive officer of the Women’s Resource Center, the vice president of advancement of the Inner City Christian Federation, the chief development and communications officer of Mel Trotter Ministries, a vice president of private banking at PNC, and a vice president of business banking at Chase. ^{11  12}

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2024, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation reported $27,259,830 in revenues, $31,738,698 in expenses, and $483,567,970 in assets. Of its expenses, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation spent $24,180,887 on grants and scholarships; $1,542,843 on philanthropic operating expenses, including processing grant applications and working with other nonprofits; and $104,253 on community initiatives focused on K-12 education. That year, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation received $317,512 (roughly one percent) of its revenues from government grants. It received $13,078,717 from other gifts, grants, and contributions, as well as $7,222,838 from investment income. ¹³

In 2024, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation reported distributing 377 grants. Notable grants include $222,380 to Aquinas College, three grants totaling $382,517 to the Chicago Community Foundation, $1,023,366 to the Chicago Community Trust, $190,519 to the Earth University Foundation, $2,362,674 to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, $137,500 to the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, $245,075 to the Grand Rapids Pride Center, $137,500 to the Grand Rapids Urban League, $145,000 to the Immigrant Assistance Center of West Michigan, $120,123 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan, $590,456 to the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, $429,250 to the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, $18,250 to Planned Parenthood of Michigan, $6,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, and $143,050 to the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.  ²